• Wash your hands often with soap and water. Use hand sanitizer if you don't have access to soap and water.
• Avoid touching your face, especially eyes, nose and mouth.
• Stay home if you are sick. Avoid contact with people who are sick.
• Cover your coughs and sneezes. Throw used tissues in the trash promptly.
• Take care of your health by eating well, getting adequate sleep, exercising and managing stress will also help your body stay resilient.
• Get vaccinated for COVID-19

There are detailed recommendations for healthcare providers to protect themselves using special types of masks and other equipment.

Oregon Mask Requirements

Post-Vaccine Guidance

We wear face coverings to help slow the spread of COVID-19. Face coverings help us keep our respiratory droplets to ourselves, which means people who wear them prevent spreading the virus to others.   Some people are contagious before they ever get symptoms and some never feel sick. They can spread the disease unknowingly.  Once you have a viral infection, wearing a face covering does not make it worse or make it last longer. It does, however, help you keep from spreading or passing it on it to others.

There are many types of face coverings, scarves, bandanas, and homemade coverings with loops that go over the ears.  Be sure your face covering fits well and covers your nose and mouth.  Wash your hands before and after touching your face covering and wash it daily.

Face coverings don’t cause enough carbon dioxide build-up to cause ill effects in otherwise healthy people. In fact, masks have a tighter seal than face coverings, and farm workers, custodial staff, and hospital employees all wear them to stay safe in their workplaces.

Remember, though, that the following people should not wear face coverings:

• Children under age 2 years

• Anyone who has a medical condition that makes it hard to breathe when wearing a face covering.

• Anyone who has a disability that prevents the individual from wearing a face covering.

Get vaccinated for COVID-19

COVID-19 treatments known as monoclonal antibodies have the potential to save lives and relieve the burden on our nation’s health care system. Monoclonal antibody therapies are now available in subcutaneous in addition to intravenous formulation.

How do monoclonal antibodies work?

Monoclonal antibodies treatments mimic our immune system’s response to SARS-CoV-2 (the infection that causes COVID-19) and are available to eligible, non-hospitalized patients 12 years and older with a high risk of progressing to severe forms of COVID-19 or being hospitalized.

Who is eligible to receive monoclonal antibody treatment?

People ages 12 and older and who weigh >40kg who:

• Have tested positive for COVID-19
• are experiencing mild or moderate symptoms of COVID-19
• had first symptoms within the last 10 days
• are considered high risk for going into the hospital because of age >65, weight, pregnancy, immunosuppressive disease or treatment or some other chronic illnesses. See the full list.

Who is eligible to receive post exposure prophylaxis with monoclonal antibodies?

People ages 12 and older and who are exposed or at high risk for exposure (such as in congregate settings) and are:

• Incompletely vaccinated - i.e. unvaccinated or partially vaccinated
• Fully vaccinated but expected to not have as strong an immune response because of immunocompromising illness or being on immunosuppressive medications.

Who give should this treatment?

Oregon Health Authority (OHA) encourages all providers to offer monoclonal antibody treatment to appropriate high-risk patients with COVID-19 infection or exposure to reduce the risk of hospitalization and symptomatic disease. The subcutaneous formulation can be administered by any qualified provider in the state of Oregon. Patients must be observed for 1 hour following administration because of the rare risk of anaphylaxis. Details on logistics and administration of this new product are available in the updated HHS playbook: https://www.phe.gov/emergency/events/COVID19/investigation-MCM/Documents/USGCOVID19-Tx-Playbook.pdf

Is monoclonal antibody treatment available in Oregon?

One product (Casirivimab/Imdevimab) is currently available in Oregon through Health and Human Services (HHS) at no charge. It is effective against the Delta variant, which is currently the predominant variant circulating in Oregon. This product is available to ship now, in both intravenous and subcutaneous formulations. Two other products are available for commercial purchase directly through manufacturer and these are effective against the Delta variant. Click here to find treatment locations near you https://protectpublic.hhs.gov/pages/therapeutics-distribution.

Is monoclonal antibody treatment effective in fighting COVID-19?

When used for treatment of mild to moderate COVID-19, Casirivimab/Imdevimab reduces the risk of hospitalization by 50% in clinical trials leading to authorization. Casirivimab/Imdevimab has been shown to reduce the risk of symptomatic COVID-19 by 81% when used as postexposure prophylaxis. Additional information regarding this data is available via the EUA Fact sheet for health care providers. (https://www.fda.gov/media/145611/download).

Where can I get more information on using monoclonal antibody treatments?

While monoclonal antibody treatments are available for direct ordering through HHS, please feel free to contact OHA with any questions you may have: [email protected]  Here is a link to the CDC’s COVID-19 Monoclonal Antibody Therapeutics Communications Toolkit for health care providers, health system administrators, treatment sites and others.

COVID-19 Testing is now widely available.  Visit the Community Testing page for information on clinical and surveillance (asymptomatic) testing sites.

Clinicians can order COVID-19 testing at their discretion. Public Health approval is not needed for this testing. Factors to consider include patient symptoms, underlying medical conditions, and contact with confirmed COVID-19 patients.

Currently, there are two types of tests used locally that are approved by the FDA to diagnose active cases.

1.     A molecular RT-PCR test that finds genetic material.

2.     An antigen test that looks for specific proteins on the surface of the virus.

Antibody tests are a third kind of test and are not approved for diagnosis; as they don’t tell us if the infection is active or not.

New FDA approved tests are being added regularly. You can find more information about them here. Please consult with your medical provider to find the appropriate test for you.

Yes.  Lane County Public health will conduct a Communicable Disease Investigation of every confirmed or presumptive case of COVID-19. 

This begins with a contact investigation, which includes establishing a timeline for when the patient started feeling sick, any traveling they might have done, who they might have had contact with in the days before they got sick, and who they may have come into contact with after they got sick.

Contact investigations are conducted by a trained communicable disease nurse and your medical information is protected by HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act).
 

This process helps keep our community safe by making sure those people who need to be quarantined do so and helps us understand the way the disease behaves and how it is moving through the community.

Please see the Long-Term Recovery / Housing, Energy Assistance & Social Services Recovery page for up to date information on eviction moratoriums and rental assistance.

Local legal resources for renters include:

Access the Law

Oregon Law Center

Business Complaints Through The State

If you have concerns that a business is not properly adhering to the State guidance, you can submit a form through Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) at https://www4.cbs.state.or.us/exs/osha/hazrep/.

The Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) is the lead agency related to grocery and convenience stores. Consumer complaints regarding customer behavior or a lack of customer social distancing in the retail environment should be directed to: https://oda.direct/complaints


Violations of the order can be treated as a class C misdemeanor, punishable by up to 30 days in jail and a $1,250 fine.


Local Compliance

Once you have reached out to these state agencies, if you would like to continue to pursue your business-related concern locally, you can contact the Lane County Non-Emergency COVID-19 Call Center at 541-682-1380 or email [email protected] We strive to be responsive with a strong emphasis on education.

Community members should refrain from calling 9-1-1 if they have non-emergency needs. If you have a complaint about failure to follow the State guidance that is not related to a business, please contact your local city government or law enforcement provider using their non-emergency phone numbers. If you live in unincorporated Lane County, please call the call center number during business hours.

The CDC is monitoring the spread of COVID-19 worldwide and how countries are responding to it. Check the CDC travel information for guidance on international travel. 

People who are fully vaccinated with an FDA-authorized vaccine or a vaccine authorized for emergency use by the World Health Organization can travel safely within the United States.

During Travel:

• Wearing a mask over your nose and mouth is required on planes, buses, trains, and other forms of public transportation traveling into, within, or out of the United States and while indoors at U.S. transportation hubs such as airports and stations. Travelers are not required to wear a mask in outdoor areas of a conveyance (like on open deck areas of a ferry or the uncovered top deck of a bus).
• Follow all state and local recommendations and requirements, including mask wearing and social distancing.
• In areas with high numbers of COVID-19 cases, consider wearing a mask in crowded outdoor settings and for activities with close contact with others who are not fully vaccinated.

         After Travel:

• Self-monitor for COVID-19 symptoms; isolate and get tested if you develop symptoms.
• Follow all state and local recommendations or requirements.

You do NOT need to get tested or self-quarantine if you are fully vaccinated or have recovered from COVID-19 in the past 3 months. You should still follow all other travel recommendations.

If at any point you develop symptoms like a fever, cough or breathing problems, please call your healthcare provider. They will assess your symptoms, may ask about travel history and will determine if you need to be tested for COVID-19.

If you test positive for COVID-19 case investigators will ask you about all recent travel.

If you are an employee, or a concerned customer, in Oregon and want to report hazards at a worksite, or believe you have been discriminated against on the basis of safety and health issues you can Contact OSHA to file a complaint. You may also consider contacting the business directly to share your concerns.

When a vaccine is authorized for emergency use, patients need to agree to receive it. There are no plans to mandate the COVID-19 vaccine by Lane County.  

Governor Brown has issued vaccine mandates for healthcare workers and state employees. 

Check with your employer if you believe these new mandates apply to you.

No.  All eligible community members are able to receive a vaccine, regardless of your immigration and citizenship status. Vaccine providers should not be asking about your immigration status. The Biden/Harris administration has declared that all vaccine sites are sensitive locations and immigration enforcement agencies will not carry out operations at or near such facilities, which also include health care facilities and hospitals.

Testing and treatment for COVID-19 (including vaccination) will not count against you for the public charge test. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) made a special announcement about this. Also, not all immigrants are subject to the public charge test.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recently strengthened its vaccine recommendation for pregnant people.  

COVID-19 vaccination is recommended for all people ages 5 and older, including people who are pregnant, breastfeeding, trying to get pregnant now, or might become pregnant in the future. 

Pregnant and recently pregnant people are more likely to get severely ill with COVID-19 compared with non-pregnant people. Fortunately, severe illness from COVID-19 during pregnancy can be avoided by getting fully vaccinated. 

In recent weeks, infections among pregnant people have been increasing. With the combination of low rates of vaccinations in pregnant people, the spread of the highly transmissible Delta variant, and the higher risk of complications from COVID-19 during pregnancy —it’s important to protect yourself if you are pregnant.  

CDC COVID-19 Information for pregnant and recently pregnant people

Those with mild illness may receive the vaccines with no effect on vaccine safety or effectiveness. However, it is better that you recover from your illness, with no symptoms, before getting vaccines to keep from spreading your illness to health care workers who are administering the vaccine.

Due to the severe health risks associated with the disease and the fact that re-infection is possible, people may be advised to get a COVID-19 vaccine even if they have been sick with the disease before. According to the CDC, COVID-19 vaccination should be offered to people regardless of a history of COVID-19 infection, with or without symptoms.

As of August 12, 2021 the FDA have authorized third-dose COVID-19 vaccines for Moderately to Severely Immunocompromised People. 

Per CDC guidelines this includes people who have:

• Been receiving active cancer treatment for tumors or cancers of the blood
• Received an organ transplant and are taking medicine to suppress the immune system
• Received a stem cell transplant within the last 2 years or are taking medicine to suppress the immune system
• Moderate or severe primary immunodeficiency (such as DiGeorge syndrome, Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome)
• Advanced or untreated HIV infection
• Active treatment with high-dose corticosteroids* (i.e., ≥20mg prednisone or equivalent per day) or other drugs that may suppress your immune response.†

* ≥20mg prednisone or equivalent per day
† Alkylating agents, antimetabolites, transplant-related immunosuppressive drugs, cancer chemotherapeutic agents classified as severely immunosuppressive, TNF blockers, and other biologic agents that are immunosuppressive or immunomodulatory

• Third doses should be at least 28 days following the second dose of a two-dose regimen of either Pfizer or Moderna.
• Additional doses of Johnson & Johnson are not currently recommended by the CDC.
• Third doses should be the same brand whenever possible.
• FDA information on additional doses
• OHA Additional Doses Frequently Asked Questions

Update 9/24/21: Lane County is not currently scheduling for third doses for immunocompromised individuals.  Many area Healthcare providers and Pharmacies are offering 3rd doses of Moderna and Pfizer for those who are immunocompromised. 

A third dose is currently available for individuals who are moderately to severely immunocompromised and may not have built up an adequate protective immune response with their first series of vaccinations. Currently, the only authorized third doses are for the Moderna and Pfizer Comirnaty vaccines. The recommendation is for immunocompromised individuals to receive a third dose of the same mRNA vaccine at least 28 days after receiving the second dose in the series (for individuals 18 years and older for Moderna and 12 years and older for Pfizer Comirnaty).  

At this time, the CDC does not have enough data to suggest that an additional dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine would produce an enhanced immune response in an immunocompromised person. Another dose of Johnson & Johnson or an mRNA vaccine is not recommended for immunocompromised individuals who have already received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. These recommendations will be reviewed as the data becomes available. 

A booster dose is for people whose immunity may be fading after they complete their first vaccination series. There is currently no COVID-19 vaccine authorized as a booster. The FDA and CDC will examine data on the safety and efficacy of booster doses in order to issue guidance, which will inform recommendations in Oregon. 

See next question for information on available booster shots.

updated 9/24/2021

Effective November 9th, Lane County Public Health will be offering only Pediatric vaccines, and by appointment only.

OHA Frequently Asked Questions about COVID-19 Boosters

Latest OHA Statement regarding Boost Doses released Sept. 24, 2021

Western States Scientific Safety Review Workgroup Recommends Pfizer-BioNTech Vaccine Booster Shot After Six Months

(Salem, OR) — The Western States Scientific Safety Review Workgroup today completed its review of the federal process and has recommended a booster dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine at least six months after their primary vaccination series for people older than 65 and people at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19. The Workgroup provided its confirmation to the Governors of California, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington today.

The Workgroup recommended the following groups of people who received the Pfizer vaccine should receive a booster dose of the Pfizer vaccine after six months:

• People 65 and older,
• People living in a long-term care facility, and
• People 50-64 with underlying medical conditions.

In addition, the Workgroup recommended that the following groups of people ages 18-64 who received the Pfizer vaccine may also receive a booster dose of the Pfizer vaccine after six months:

• People with underlying medical conditions, and
• People who are at higher risk of COVID-19 exposure and transmission due to occupational or institutional setting.

The Workgroup strongly endorsed the CDC’s recognition that long-standing health and social inequities have increased the risk of severe illness from COVID-19, and recommended that social determinants of vulnerability be included in the assessment of medical conditions that qualify individuals for booster doses. Because unvaccinated individuals remain at much higher risk of COVID-19 than vaccinated individuals, the Workgroup also reiterated that its members strongly support vaccination against COVID-19 for everyone 12 years of age and older.

On Wednesday, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorized booster shots of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for people 65 and older and those that are at higher risk for COVID-19, and the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices affirmed that decision on Thursday. On Thursday, the CDC also recommended people at higher risk due to occupational or institutional setting also be eligible for Pfizer booster doses. The Workgroup reviewed and affirmed the federal decisions in meetings Thursday evening and Friday morning.

Recognizing that only Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines have been authorized for booster doses, the Workgroup implored the FDA and CDC to quickly find solutions to sustain the protection of the most vulnerable individuals who have received a Moderna or Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) vaccine. The Workgroup also applauded the donation of COVID-19 vaccines to nations in need and called for an expansion of those efforts to protect the global community, save lives, and prevent the emergence of new COVID-19 variants.

Washington, Oregon, and Nevada joined California’s COVID-19 Scientific Safety Review Workgroup in October. The Workgroup, made up of nationally-acclaimed scientists with expertise in immunization and public health, has concurrently and independently reviewed the FDA’s actions related to COVID-19 vaccines. It will continue to evaluate other COVID-19 vaccines as they go through the federal process.

Statement from Governor Kate Brown:

"COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective, and vaccination continues to be our path out of this pandemic. Seniors who have received the Pfizer vaccine, as well as Oregonians who have underlying health conditions, live in long-term care facilities, or who are at higher risk due to occupational or institutional setting will now be able to receive the additional layer of protection provided by a booster shot. Everyone eligible who wants a booster will get one, and I'm committed to ensuring our most vulnerable Oregonians are protected from COVID-19, including those who are at higher risk due to systemic health and social inequities. I’d like to thank Oregonians for their patience as boosters become available while our hospitals and health care workers continue to respond to the ongoing Delta surge."

Your immunization was recorded in the state ALERT immunization record system. 

If you need a copy of your vaccine information the quickest and easiest way is to complete the form below and email to [email protected] or print and mail to:

ALERT IIS
800 NE Oregon Street
Suite 370
Portland, Oregon 97232

You can also request a copy of records from your pharmacy, primary care provider who can access the ALERT system.

Form for requesting records.

 More information on ALERT immunization records can be found here.

Lane County Public Health is limited in our ability to provide you with a copy of your COVID-19 immunization records at this time.  The above resources will provide you with a record more quickly than we are currently able to.

Vaccines are available through healthcare providers, pharmacies and vaccine clinic events.

Visit Get Vaccinated for more information.

No. There is no cost for the COVID-19 vaccine and you do not need to have insurance.

The vaccine will be covered by Medicare, Medicaid, and most private insurance. The cost of the vaccine will be covered for people who are uninsured.

There is a COVID-19 vaccination program for homebound individuals.  If you are homebound please call or email Lane County ([email protected] or 541-682-1380) and provide a minimum of your address and phone number.  Lane County works with state who will contact you and schedule a time to come to your home and provider your vaccination. 

Lane County can assist with transportation to a vaccine clinic.  To access this assistance schedule an appointment and check the box on the scheduling form that says you need transportation assistance (bottom of the name & demographics page).  Our team will then reach out to you to determine what assistance is needed and help coordinate low or no-cost transportation.  You can also call or email us and we can connect you with our transportation assistance team: [email protected] or 541-682-1380.

Thanks to advances in medicine, scientists were able to create and test a vaccine quickly. The Food & Drug Administration (FDA) requires rigorous safety testing before it will approve any vaccine. Tens of thousands of people — including Oregonians — from many backgrounds, ages and communities of color, participated in vaccine testing.

What does Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) mean? In times of a public health emergency, like a pandemic, the FDA allows the use of certain life-saving drugs and treatments through Emergency Use Authorization. The COVID-19 vaccine was tested in tens of thousands of study participants, which generated enough data to convince the FDA that the vaccine is safe and effective, and the manufacturer producing the vaccine meets all safety standards.

On August 23, 2-21 the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted full approval to the Pfizer-BioNTech mRNA COVID-19 Vaccine, which will be marketed as “Comirnaty.”

Under the newly granted FDA approval, Comirnaty will be available to all people ages 16 and older to prevent COVID-19 disease. Under Emergency Use Authorization, the vaccine will continue to be available to all individuals ages 5 and older, and a third dose will be available to immunocompromised people.

In Comirnaty’s journey to FDA approval, the agency reviewed vaccine effectiveness data from roughly 40,000 individuals ages 16 and older — half of whom received placebos — who did not have evidence of the COVID-19 virus infection within a week of receiving the second dose.

Based on this analysis, the agency determined Comirnaty was 91% effective in preventing COVID-19 disease. 

In addition to reviewing vaccine effectiveness data, the FDA also reviewed vaccine safety data. More than half of the clinical trial participants from the vaccine effectiveness study were monitored for safety outcomes for at least four months after their second dose of Comirnaty. An additional 12,000 recipients were followed for at least six months following their second dose.

Based on this study, the FDA determined that the most common side effects included:

• Pain, redness and swelling at the injection site
• Fatigue
• Headache
• Muscle or joint pain
• Chills
• Fever

The FDA also evaluated the risks related to myocarditis and pericarditis following the administration of Comirnaty. After a thorough review, the agency determined:

• Risk is highest among men ages 12 to 17.
• The symptoms appear within seven days of the second dose of Comirnaty.
• Most symptoms clear up.

The FDA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will continue to monitor the safety of Comirnaty, specifically as it relates to long-term outcomes, through the robust vaccine safety monitoring systems in place in the US.

Even with full approval, health care providers must administer COVID-19 vaccines in accordance with all program requirements and recommendations of CDC, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) and the FDA. Therefore, off-label use of Comirnaty is not recommended.

Here is a brief timeline of Comirnaty’s (Pfizer vaccine) journey to becoming a fully approved vaccine in the US:

• Dec. 11, 2020: FDA authorizes Pfizer-BioNTech two-dose COVID-19 vaccine for emergency use in the US for individuals ages 16 and older.
• May 10, 2021: FDA authorizes Pfizer-BioNTech two-dose COVID-19 vaccine for emergency use in the US for individuals ages 12 and older.
• Aug. 12, 2021: FDA authorizes additional mRNA vaccine dose for certain immunocompromised individuals
• Aug. 23, 2021: FDA approves Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine (Comirnaty) for individuals ages 16 and older.

Resources

• Vaccine Information Fact Sheet for Recipients and Caregivers About Comirnaty
• FDA, CDC and Western States recommend additional vaccine dose for immunocompromised individuals
• Western states workgroup approves vaccinations for individuals 12 and older
• Vaccine 101: What’s an mRNA vaccine?
• Myocarditis and Pericarditis Following mRNA COVID-19 Vaccination
• Approval versus Emergency Use Authorization (EUA): What’s the difference?

FDA Website
OHA Website

CDC and FDA encourage the public to report possible side effects (called adverse events) to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) . This national system collects these data to look for adverse events that are unexpected, appear to happen more often than expected or have unusual patterns of occurrence.

Visit The CDC VAERS Webpage to learn about the difference between a vaccine side effect and an adverse event and how reports to VAERS help CDC monitor the safety of vaccines. Safety is a top priority.
  

We also recommend using the V-safe After Vaccination Health Checker to share your side effects with the CDC as part of ongoing vaccine safety monitoring.

As of May 14, 2021, the CDC has relaxed guidance on wearing a mask for persons who have been fully vaccinated in many situations. However, in Lane County we still follow the guidance from the Oregon Health Authority. For more information on situations where masking is required, please visit https://govstatus.egov.com/or-oha-face-coverings.

You can find more post vaccine guidance here: Post Vaccine Guidance

For the two dose vaccines (Pfizer & Modern) both doses are the same amount.  Your immune response may be different to each dose.

Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) requires only a single dose.

Oregon Health Authority - Vaccine Safety
CDC COVID-19 Vaccine Safety in the US
FDA COVID-19 Vaccines